Word is that Reps. Robson, Stump and McClure are planning to run as a team for the Arizona Corporation Commission. Resign to run rules are in effect, so don't expect any current officeholders to confirm that they are interested in 2008 seats, but the word is getting out.
It's going to be a crowded field. Former Reps. John Allen and Barry Wong are expected to run as well. Rep. Mason is also considering a run.
The ACC was a Democratic stronghold until the late 90s, but the agency is now represented by five Republicans and the Democrats haven't won a seat since Renz Jennings was re-elected in 1992.
Current office holders, Bill Mundell, Mike Gleason and Jeff Hatch-Miller are termed out so the majority of the seats on the Commission are in play. An interesting quirk in the way the terms are structured means that the three Republican nominees will all run against the three Democratic nominees and the top three vote getters are seated.
(ACC watchers are carefully watching the CD one race as well. Renzi is presumed not to be running for re-election and Commissioner Mayes' base is the Prescott area. If Ken Bennett doesn't run for Renzi's seat, or if Bennett and Konopnicki both run for it, then Mayes is likely to jump in.)
I was ready to support Ellen Simon for CD-01, but I have heard she has withdrawn. Who besides this Fitzpatrick woman would provide any competition to the Rs?
Posted by: netrootsdemocrat | July 05, 2007 at 05:52 PM
The only announced candidates I know of are Mary Kim Titla and Howard Shanker. Both are Democrats.
Posted by: TEEJ | July 05, 2007 at 08:00 PM
Howard has his website up and running: http://www.howardshankerforcongress.com/
Posted by: ron | July 05, 2007 at 09:15 PM
Three new faces can't do any worse than the ones we have there now. I have yet to have one response from any of the three who are term-limited to any phone calls or emails I have sent them. I even tried to get a response while they were running for the ACC offices during the last active election cycle - so I didn't vote for any of them. Want my vote? At least answer a simple question!
I know that Mr. Stump will answer my email - at least he answered the only one I ever sent him. He is not my rep - so it was kind of him to do so.
How about Mr. Wong for AG? He already has run for state-wide office in the past. Just a thought.
Posted by: ron | July 05, 2007 at 09:27 PM
Stump needs better friends! Is he supposed to be the token conservative?
Posted by: John | July 05, 2007 at 10:04 PM
I thought the board of APS was the ACC with all of the rate hikes they have secured for themselves.
Posted by: Les | July 06, 2007 at 07:18 PM